Combination of Hook Plate and Tibial Pro-Fibular Screw Fixation of Osteoporotic Fractures: A Clinical Evaluation of Operative Strategy

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 510-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod K. Panchbhavi ◽  
Milan G. Mody ◽  
William T. Mason
Keyword(s):  
Internal Fixation ◽  
Open Reduction ◽  
Screw Fixation ◽  
Ankle Fractures ◽  
Hook Plate ◽  
Fracture Union ◽  
Operative Strategy ◽  
Pull Out ◽  
Fixation Group ◽  
Standard Fixation

Background: Internal fixation of osteoporotic ankle fractures is technically difficult and may fail because of unreliable purchase. This study was undertaken to determine if a combination of a hook plate and tibial pro-fibular screws can provide secure fixation until fracture union. Methods: Thirty-one patients between the ages of 55 and 90 years had open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures between April, 2001, and April, 2003. Sixteen patients with an average age of 71.4 years had ankle fracture fixation with a combination of hook plate and tibial pro-fibular screws for the distal fibular fracture, and 15 patients with an average age of 71.9 years had fixation of their ankle fractures with standard fixation technique using AO/ASIF principles but no tibial pro-fibular screws. All patients were followed with clinical and radiologic assessment at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks postoperatively. At an average of 15.8 months after injury, patients also completed a mailed questionnaire with the Olerud-Molander ankle score and the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score for preoperative and postoperative status. Results: All patients who had tibial pro-fibular screw fixation had fracture union without hardware failure or complications. In the standard fixation group two patients had wound breakdown and one had a valgus malunion with screw pull out. The AOFAS and Olerud-Molander scores for the standard open reduction and internal fixation were 57.3 and 82.8 before injury and 37 and 43.8 postoperatively, respectively. The AOFAS and Olerud-Molander scores for the hook plate and tibial pro-fibular fixation group were 55.9 and 81.3 before injury and 42.4 and 50.3 postoperatively, respectively. Conclusions: The combination of hook plate and tibial pro-fibular screws in osteoporotic ankle fractures in a series of patients has not been reported before. This novel technique provides stable fixation for osteoporotic ankle fractures in elderly patients until union is achieved with good clinical scores.

Effect of Early Weightbearing Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Unstable Ankle Fractures on Wound Complications or Failures of Fixation

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 1397-1402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey Pyle ◽  
Michael Kim-Orden ◽  
Tyler Hughes ◽  
Brian Schneiderman ◽  
Robert Kay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Internal Fixation ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Open Reduction ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Ankle Fractures ◽  
Wound Complications ◽  
Fracture Union ◽  
Wound Breakdown ◽  
Hardware Failures

Background: There is a growing trend toward early weightbearing as tolerated (WBAT) after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of ankle fractures. To date, studies have excluded fractures with associated syndesmotic injuries from their cohorts. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, a chart review was performed at a single level 1 trauma center, identifying all unstable ankle fractures that underwent operative fixation between July 2016 and July 2017. After exclusion criteria, 63 patients were identified and 31 were included in the final analysis, with 14 undergoing syndesmotic fixation. WBAT was initiated after suture removal, between 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively. Outcomes included fracture union, radiographic maintenance of alignment, hardware failures, wound complications, and the need for repeat surgery. Results: Weightbearing was initiated at an average of 17.8 days. All 31 patients progressed toward fracture union, with no hardware failures. Three patients developed superficial wound breakdown, which was treated with protected weightbearing in all cases and oral antibiotics in 1 case. All 3 went on to heal from their incisions. One patient had delayed wound breakdown and required a split-thickness skin graft that subsequently healed without complication. One patient underwent hardware removal 6 months postoperatively. There were no revision ORIF procedures. Conclusion: There is literature supporting early WBAT after ORIF of unstable ankle fractures in patients without major comorbidities. This article supports this trend, demonstrating that a group of ankle fractures requiring syndesmotic fixation were included in the early weightbearing cohort without a higher rate of catastrophic failure or increased wound problems. Level of Evidence Level IV, retrospective cohort study.

scholarly journals Findings of Routine Diagnostic Ankle Arthroscopy for Management of AO 44-C Fibular Fractures

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011417S0001
Author(s):  
Daniel Dean ◽  
Francis McGuigan ◽  
Nicholas Casscells
Keyword(s):  
Internal Fixation ◽  
Open Reduction ◽  
Case Series ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Ankle Arthroscopy ◽  
Ankle Fractures ◽  
Mechanism Of Injury ◽  
Loose Bodies ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Articular Damage

Category: Ankle, Arthroscopy, Trauma Introduction/Purpose: High fibula fractures, including Maisonneuve and Weber type C fractures are commonly associated with syndesmotic injuries resulting in subluxation and dislocation of the ankle. These injuries to the joint are rarely evaluated or addressed during operative fixation, which generally consists of open reduction internal fixation of the fibula with or without fixation of the syndesmosis. Chondral lesions and loose bodies in ankle fractures may predict a poor result and can be addressed using arthroscopy to avoid exacerbating articular damage. The purpose of this study is to identify the frequency and severity of articular pathology in Weber C and Maisonneuve fibula fractures. Methods: A single surgeon case series of operatively managed ankle fractures with arthroscopic assessment from 2011-2015 was retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were patients with AO 44-C ankle fractures who were aged >17 and underwent arthroscopic assessment of the ankle joint prior to open reduction and internal fixation. Patients were excluded from the series if they presented <2 weeks from the time of injury, had a pilon variant, or had incomplete medical records available. Demographic information on the patients including age, sex, and BMI were collected. Information on mechanism of injury was recorded. Operative reports were reviewed and the presence of chondral injury and loose bodies was recorded. Descriptive statistics were performed on the collected data. Results: 18 patients (12 male, 6 female) with a mean age of 38.3 years (range 17-61; SD 13.9) were included in the case series. The average BMI 29.6 (SD 6.92). Five of the included fractures were Maisonneuve fractures while the remaining 13 were Weber C ankle fractures. The mechanism of injury of the fracture was low energy in 12, high energy in 1, and unknown in 5. On arthroscopic examination, 12 (66.7%) of the fractures were associated with full thickness articular cartilage injury requiring formal chondroplasty, 16 (88.9%) were associated with a minimum of partial articular damage, and only 2 (11.1%) had no articular damage identified on arthroscopy. Additionally, 12 (66.7%) had loose bodies that were removed during ankle arthroscopy. Conclusion: This study adds to a growing collection of literature concerning chondral injuries during ankle fractures. The data from this study suggest that AO 44-C fibular fractures are associated with a high rate of intraarticular pathology that can be effectively identified and managed during arthroscopy. Prospective studies are required to determine if there are therapeutic benefits to routine ankle arthroscopy in AO 44-C ankle fractures.

scholarly journals Morbidity and Readmission After Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Ankle Fractures Are Associated With Preoperative Patient Characteristics

2014 ◽  
Vol 473 (3) ◽  
pp. 1133-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryce A. Basques ◽  
Christopher P. Miller ◽  
Nicholas S. Golinvaux ◽  
Daniel D. Bohl ◽  
Jonathan N. Grauer
Keyword(s):  
Internal Fixation ◽  
Open Reduction ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Ankle Fractures ◽  
Preoperative Patient

Predictors of Time to Union After Operative Fixation of Closed Ankle Fractures

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 308-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. Matson ◽  
Kamran S. Hamid ◽  
Samuel B. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Internal Fixation ◽  
Open Reduction ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Delayed Union ◽  
Ankle Fractures ◽  
Patient Counseling ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Energy Mechanism

Background. Ankle fractures are common and represent a significant burden to society. We aim to report the rate of union as determined by clinical and radiographic data, and to identify factors that predict time to union. Methods. A cohort of 112 consecutive patients with isolated, closed, operative malleolar ankle fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation was retrospectively reviewed for time to clinical union. Clinical union was defined based on radiographic and clinical parameters, and delayed union was defined by time to union >12 weeks. Injury characteristics, patient factors and treatment variables were recorded, and statistical techniques employed included the Chi-square test, the Student’s T-test, and multivariate linear regression modeling. Results. Forty-two (37.5%) of patients who achieved union did so in less than 12 weeks, and 69 (61.6%) of these patients demonstrated delayed union at a mean of 16.7 weeks (range, 12.1-26.7 weeks), and the remaining patient required revision surgery. Factors associated with higher rates of delayed union or increased time to union included tobacco use, bimalleolar fixation, and high energy mechanism (all p<0.05). In regression analysis, statistically significant negative predictors of time to union were BMI, dislocation of the tibiotalar joint, external fixation for initial stabilization and delay of definitive management (all p<0.05). Conclusion. Patient characteristics, injury factors and treatment variables are predictive of time to union following open reduction and internal fixation of closed ankle fractures. These findings should assist with patient counseling, and help guide the provider when considering adjunctive therapies that promote bone healing. Levels of Evidence: Prognostic, Level IV: Case series

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